ENCINITAS — Jackie Bruner slides off her flip flops behind the counter at Encinitas Boxing and Fitness. Being barefoot, she said, is her preferred mode of existence.

Bruner said she prefers being without shoes when she takes strolls with her boyfriend, works out at the gym and in the comfort of her home.

“It’s more comfortable,” she said.

She isn’t alone. Across Encinitas — and the country — more and more people are shedding shoes on walks, shopping runs, workouts and other aspects of everyday life.

The barefoot movement hasn’t been accepted by everyone. Restaurants and stores frequently admonish patrons that without shoes, they won’t be served.

A Las Vegas-based organization, however, is trying to change this, and it sees Encinitas as a fertile ground for spreading the doctrine of barefoot acceptance.

Barefoot is Legal is a nonprofit organization that is trying to eradicate the stigma associated with being barefoot, and raise awareness that there are no laws against the practice, despite the common misconception of such rules.

Proponents of being barefoot point to various health studies that tout the health benefits of the practice, including increasing antioxidants, reducing inflammation and improving sleep.

“Americans are conditioned to believe that not wearing shoes is illegal, unhealthy and dangerous,” said Dave Kelman, founder and president of the nonprofit. “Flip flops are the world’s most worn shoe. People wear them because they want to go barefoot, but think it is illegal. There are many health benefits to ‘earthing’ — that people will not take advantage of because of being yelled at or kicked out of a store.”

Myekah Beond, the organization’s Pacific regional director, said the group’s research points to the stigma associated with barefooted behavior starting with the anti-hippie movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

“We looked and before that, being barefoot was considered normal,” Beond said. “But during the end of the ‘60s and early ‘70s, store owners started putting those ‘no shirts, no shoes no service’ signs up because they did not want the hippies in their establishment.

“What happened between then and now is that it has been perpetuated and now people believe there is some health code violation or rule against being barefoot in stores, restaurants and other places, and we’ve debunked that,” Beond said. “It’s a myth ingrained in everyone’s head.”

For instance in San Diego, the County Department of Environmental Health has no laws or regulations dealing with being barefoot in establishments, said Michael Workman, a county spokesman.

“Since being barefoot while dining is not considered a factor in maintaining a safe food environment or food handling practices, it is not addressed under the food safety regulations,” Workman said. “Requiring patrons/customers to wear shoes or other customer practices that do not affect food safety are completely at the discretion of the food facility management.”

Beond said that half of the organization’s efforts are aimed at assisting people who run into problems at establishments who discriminate against them because they are barefoot.

For example, Beond said that last week he dealt with a drugstore manager who told him to leave the store because he was barefoot. He ended up contacting the store’s regional manager who said apologized and said that he didn’t believe in enforcing the store policy because he knew it wasn’t backed by any laws, and told the store manager to allow him to shop.

“You regularly run into employees who think there’s a law against it, and a higher up who knows that there isn’t and doesn’t want to kick out a paying customer, so 80 percent of the time they’ll apologize and say it shouldn’t have happened,” Beond said.

While there aren’t any laws, some restaurant and other businesses will continue to enforce those policies — and it’s their right, a representative of the California Restaurant Association said.

Restaurants and other establishments reserve the right to refuse service for various reasons, said Chris Duggan, the organization’s director of local government affairs.

In the case of a barefoot patron, Duggan said, a restaurant might decline to serve them out of an abundance of caution because of liability issues. A barefoot patron’s foot could get cut on a glass shard or some other debris, he said.

“You want to make sure you have a safe environment, so a barefoot customer could get turned away because of safety concerns,” Duggan said. “Of course, there are a lot of beach communities in San Diego, from Ocean Beach all the way up to Oceanside, so some restaurants might be more liberal in enforcing the policy.”

Beond said this was one of the reasons he moved from Valley Center to Encinitas in December.

“When I came here, I was working at a vegan restaurant and every day I saw someone new come in who wasn’t wearing shoes,” said Beond, who shed his footwear 20 years ago after suffering from knee pain that doctors said would require surgery to fix. He’s been pain-free since losing the shoes, he said.

“We’re looking at this area as a hotbed of awareness, so to speak,” Beond said.

To that end, the organization is hosting a meet-up at 4 p.m. July 29 at Native Foods in Encinitas, as it looks for more people to be ambassadors of the barefoot movement.

For people like Bruner, this is music to their ears.

“I think there should be more awareness of the fact that it’s not bad to be barefoot,” she said. “I think there shouldn’t be a stigma against it because it’s natural, it is the way we were made to walk.”

For more information about Barefoot is Legal, visit the group’s website www.barefootislegal.org.

Giving up shoes was the best thing I did for pain management! If to add one thing flip flops cause so many injures but are considered proper footwear?? Thank you to Barefoot is Legal for the knowledge they’ve given me!

Thank you, Thank You, Thank You!
Everything in this article is spot on and I try to tell people this information, some don’t believe me. They think there is some kind of law or code. I am so grateful for this, I’m vindicated.

I can’t wear shoes due to medical reasons and there is only one thing about the article I need to add.
The part about the restaurant association. If someone like me, who has a doctors note, enters a business, they can not refuse service.

It falls under section 51 of the California civil code and as a medical condition is protected.
So in that instance, they can not refuse service, or they violate the civil code.

I have been barefoot for years and was thrilled to discover the page barefoot is legal. There are so many benefits to going barefoot yet there is a stigma associated with it. People need to understand that’s it’s not dirty and it’s acceptable to walk around without restrictions and being bound up.

Great article! I live in the Utah mountain area and one by one my entire family hikes the trails barefoot now. We’ve found that we don’t sweat or tire as easily as with shoes on. There is a store or two who are unaccepting in our area but for the most part we go everywhere barefoot! It’s an amazing feeling & #BAREFOOTISLEGAL

Great article. Thanks for publishing it. This is exactly the kind of useful information that people need to know. The myths and prejudices about bare feet are too common in this country, and positive articles like this help. I rarely comment on or share articles on social media, but this one struck me.

The “Society for Barefoot Living” is another group (formed in 1994) that promotes the benefits of barefoot living and advocates for barefoot rights. Please check .

This SBL website has a wealth of information, including letters from all 50 state Health Dept.s confirming that none requires shoes for customers. The site also links to many articles, blogs, videos and other authoritative and trustworthy resources that address the health and other benefits of going barefoot, while also debunking myths (a few of which were mentioned in this article).

The “Society for Barefoot Living” is another group (formed in 1994) that promotes the benefits of barefoot living and advocates for barefoot rights. See: www. barefooters. org .

This SBL website has a wealth of information, including letters from all 50 state Health Dept.s confirming that none requires shoes for customers. The site also links to many articles, blogs, videos and other authoritative and trustworthy resources that address the health and other benefits of going barefoot, while also debunking myths (a few of which were mentioned in this article).

I’d like to add a few more points that businesses which are afraid of safety and liability issues should consider.

First of all, the chances of getting a serious barefoot injury in a store is extremely small. When a glass object breaks, only large pieces of glass with jagged edges protruding upward or at an angle can cause serious injury, but such large glass is easily seen and avoided. When the broken glass object is cleaned up, any small glass left behind is not likely to cut, because the glass is too small and tends to lie flat. If the small glass does cut the foot, the cut would simply be too minor to be an issue. I have been going barefoot for over 20 years and have never been cut by glass in any store!

Assuming that a customer does injure his foot in a case that could have been prevented by wearing shoes, the store would not be liable! Simply put, if a customer gets injured because he took a risk that he was well aware of (like going barefoot), under legal principle the business would not be liable for his injury. Establishments are not legally responsible for the actions of their patrons. When someone walks into a public venue, they legally assume whatever risk they bring upon themselves.

As an example, this principle is explicitly stated in the following Georgia code:

§ 51-11-7. Effect of plaintiff’s failure to avoid consequences of defendant’s negligence.
If the plaintiff by ordinary care could have avoided the consequences to himself caused by the defendant’s negligence, he is not entitled to recover.

In other words, if the plaintiff could have avoided injury by wearing shoes, the business is not liable. Similar laws exist in other states to protect the business.

If the store has any doubts about this, then they can simply post a sign that says something like “barefoot at own risk” or “proper footwear advised for your safety”. This would completely absolve the business from liability, while not interfering with the customer’s personal freedom.

Finally, it should be noted that there are no insurance rules that void coverage for barefoot related injuries. The insurance will cover all expenses related to such a lawsuit, and even pay the award to the plaintiff if he wins (which is nearly impossible), without penalty to the business. For proof, go to:

But think about this: If safety and liability were such a big issue, then why are so many coastal town stores and restaurants accepting of barefoot customers? Wouldn’t they have suffered from many lawsuits already and thus stopped accepting barefoot customers?

This is an excellent article overall, and well states the issues that some of us who have chosen to (or need to) never wear shoes or other footwear have to deal with.

But unfortunately, the article loses some credibility when the spokesperson for his organization touts the pseudoscience nonsense known as “earthing.” Being barefoot is a healthy and natural state, as human feet were designed to function perfectly under all conditions without “support” or coverings. Obviously people can and will believe what they choose to believe – and it is their right, as long as it’s not causing some harm to someone else by espousing those beliefs. But the theory of “earthing” or “grounding,” which relates to the body absorbing electrons, and electrons going back and forth, is neither logical nor a scientifically sound hypothesis. It is almost certainly based on people seeing what they want to see, and mistaking anecdotes for data. If this truly were based on actual unbiased scientific tests and studies, then there would be universal acceptance of it, and there isn’t.

But the biggest problem with promoting such notions as a reason to go barefoot, is that the vast majority of not only scientists, but just people in general (if they’ve even heard of it), look at this “earthing” thing as some kind of silly new-age fringe nonsense. And if that’s being claimed as a valid reason to go barefoot, it sends the message that we’re all a bunch of kooks. The message should be that being barefoot is not only natural and healthy, but also based on provable medical and scientific facts.

Barefootislegal.org is the best modern website for going barefoot. The SBL was great in the 1990s but has become a place where people are too timid to get their own news media. The SBL was the cassette, which had a good run. The BIL is Pandora, which is the current trend. Instead of being exclusive and make people feel as though you are in a cult, perhaps try to work on your own image. Sounds like you are hating that this website got some media attention.

I agree with Peter above. The Society for Barefoot Living is the original barefoot rights support and information organization, and its website is a wealth of facts, advice, and other information covering all facets of living a barefoot lifestyle. Anyone who is interested in learning more can check them out at http://www.barefooters.org/ .

The BIL is today’s current standard for barefoot rights. Kriss Sands is trying to protect 1990s and keep the decade preserved. Give it up already that your website is not that popular anymore since you became an elitist cult.

Brent, you certainly have a right to your opinion, but I strongly disagree. The current SBL website http://www.barefooters.org/ is nothing like it used to be a few years ago, as many of its pages and information had become old and obsolete. It was totally revised and revamped a couple of years ago, and is now kept current on an ongoing basis. The BIL website has some good information as well, though, agreeing with Ben above, unfortunately their references to the pseudoscience nonsense called “earthing” or “grounding” as being a valid concept are doing the barefoot rights movement a disservice by helping to relegate barefooters to fringe cult status in the eyes of the public.

No, the SBL is not an activist “in your face” organization and never has been. It is an organization that promotes living barefoot as a healthy lifestyle for those who choose to, and provides a wealth of information that supports barefoot rights. In fact, there is probably not a single topic or question anyone might have regarding living a successful barefoot lifestyle that is not answered or covered somewhere in the pages of the SBL site. It’s run by volunteers who freely give their time and donate their experience and knowledge based on extensive research into all aspects of living barefoot in today’s shod society. And the site will never ask anyone for money.

Brent, nobody mentioned or even implied that you or anyone else should be “leaving the BIL.” I’m not sure why you wrote that. And I’m just curious – you’ve mentioned several times about the SBL trying to “Elitist”? What do you mean by that? Can you give us some specific examples of what you’re talking about, because I certainly don’t see that at all. So I’m really curious about how you’re getting that impression. Please enlighten us.

BTW, I hope you’re not talking about the “SBL” facebook group, because that’s not the real SBL. They’re a group that stole the SBL name a few years ago, and have no affiliation whatsoever with the real SBL, as represented by the website http://www.barefooters.org/

And as to “ram your website down our throats,” sounds like you really feel threatened. Honestly, you don’t need to feel threatened by a mention of the SBL. It’s there to help barefooters and potential barefooters and would never criticize or put down other sites that have the same basic purpose.

As the author of the article, I would request that we keep the conversation germane to story itself, and please refrain from unnecessary insults or other “color commentary.” I think some of you have eloquently stated your criticisms, and that’s fine, but the conversation has kind of veered off course from the topic of the story, which was that this particular group views Encinitas as fertile grounds for its activities, not a story on the state of the barefoot movement in its entirety.

Brent, just a couple of clarifications.
The Society for Barefoot Living is not *my* website. I’ve just been a member for about 15 years, and it literally changed my life – for the better. It’s the most comprehensive and fact-filled site out there for anything barefoot related. http://www.barefooters.org/
The other thing is, I’m not pushing this site to “you.” Your continued negative comments here are just providing me (and others, obviously) the opportunities to provide information on other choices and perspectives instead of the narrow focus on only one site for barefooting information.

Kriss and Ben, way to hijack an article and use it for nefarious reasons. When McDonalds has a new hamburger, Burger King does not scour the internet and post about their Whoppers and how much McDonalds sucks. Why not get your own articles? You did not invent going barefoot. Let it be and if you want to promote your website, get your own media instead of waiting for a much bigger website than you to get something going?

Reagan, this article was included in a public newspaper. The newspaper has also provided this space for comments from the *public*, not just the fans of your website. If you have a problem with disagreement or criticism from readers, may I suggest never allowing a reporter to publish an article about something so dear to your heart in the future. I and others will continue to post our opinions, even if those opinions bother you as much as my last post did.

Not only flat earth, James, but bizarre right wing conspiracy theories and pseudoscience mark the dictatorial leadership principles of the BIL. And that’s really unfortunate as so many people think barefooters are weirdos anyway, and that site – at least the leadership anyway – just helps confirm that in the eyes of the public.

Ben, I’m not sure where you get the flat earth or conspiracy theories from, but I have never seen a conversation about them in the group. Maybe some of the members believe that, but they are free to their beliefs.

We have members from all beliefs. Be it just your every day beliefs, veganism, non vaccine, gun rights, whatever. When they come into the group, they don’t discuss that there.
We are open to everyone. If some members believe that stuff, it’s fine, they have that right but they don’t discuss it in the group.

And in relation to all the people posting from these sudden pop up groups, can I just say.. Can we all just get along? Work for one cause??

The human foot contains over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. Just as the muscles, tendons and ligaments in other parts of the human body need exercise, it’s a healthy practice to exercise the muscles, tendons and ligaments in our feet. Very positive article! Thank you!

July 17, 2017
Copyright Pat Holland 2016
All Rights Reserved
You may copy this only in its entirety, so people get the big picture.
858 455 1033

I stopped wearing sandals most of the time to discover foot numbness lessening greatly. Could it be that the nano materials going into so many sandals’ foot beds (and tops from anti smell wrappings in new shoe boxes, has been a cause of numbness?) For decades there has been scientific research showing health harm from many nano materials. Nano materials are now found in many sun screens, cosmetics, lotions, even furniture polish and other “cleaning products” , malls, stores, gas stations, amusemeant parks, a hospital chain, clothes, shoes, new cars, fragrances- they can migrate anywhere in the body, even cross the blood brain barrier!

Some, in fragrances have been advertised as capable of altering emotions and behavior. They have been repeatedly observed to cause real physical addiction, irrational fear and anger, and even acquiescence. They have been observed to cause coughing, runny noses, red & teary eyes, physical exhaustion, even death.

Breath and skin absorb them into your bloodstream and whole body. There is scientific evidence of health harm to humans, animals, even to the soils ability to produce plants.

As second hand cigarette smoke can harm you, so can second hand man made nano materials.

They poison, our air, water, food and bodies.

I don’t want to get athletes’ foot, nor cuts on my feet. I do want my feet and rest of me protected from the nano materials that are flooding the environment . Must I live in a bubble? Why aren’t the nano poisons banned? Maybe together we can get that ban in every city, state, nation.

The feet are pathways of pleasure for the brain, where a sense of freedom, titillation, and comfort are all that’s needed. I’ve been barefooting for 4 years now, and it’s becoming an inconsiderate problem to even question whether I should ever wear shoes again.

As a sufferer of chronic pain, I found so much reef in going barefoot. I hope many more discover this, along with all the other information. Check out barefoot is legal in facebook, and barefootislegal.org for tons of information and welcoming ears!

Really you guys!! You plug your website on an artical written for a similar organization?? Call people names like little children??? Sounds like a few of you need to grow up and it’s not Barefoot is Legal!

I’m happier being barefoot thanks to the activism of the BIL group. Of course walking on natural grounds like beaches and grass and Earth are good for everyone, but I also enjoy walking barefoot around my big city. It helps people remember the natural life they crave, and I don’t contribute shoes to the city dump. The cognitive dissonance of some people is alarming, like when someone equates flipflops with armor plated boots at places where such are unnecessary. Shoes are tools like HAZMAT suits; very few workers may need to use them. Listen to the BarefootIsLegal.org show on FreedomizerRadio.com for more info, and go barefoot often for increased awareness of your planet. Be free.

I am sorry to see division in the barefoot community. A worthy goal is to support each other and spread the gospel of barefooting. I thank everyone who helps people learn about such a natural and rudimentary thing as walking barefoot.

The “barefoot community” consists of a lot more than just one or two large sites out there. For people interested in pure barefooting discussion in a friendly and respectful manner, including accurate information and insight from experienced barefooters, I would recommend Born to Be Barefoot, https://www.facebook.com/groups/borntobebarefoot/ . Check us out! We’re very different from any other barefoot site out there. Just read our description and pinned post and you’ll find out why.

James, that is the whole point, to bring new people in. No movement works if you keep the same set of people and not bring in more who believe the same. Movements only work in numbers and why is it so bad to spread the word to other like minded individuals?

Yes you were released from the group. But I tried to talk to you and explain why and how you could be allowed back in. But you continued to to message me and also many other members who started complaining to us about you. You came off as obsessed and we had no other choice. I tried really hard to help you, but you continued.

At least Bare Feet Are Legal is an open public group. People aren’t forced to join before they can find out what the group is all about and what its true attitude and agenda is. So is Born to Be Barefoot https://www.facebook.com/groups/borntobebarefoot/ . We have nothing to hide, and don’t operate in secret from the public view, as does the BIL group. Anyone can read our description, read our pinned post regarding posting guidelines, and read everything that’s been written by members, all without being forced to join first. Then they know what we’re about, and can then make a decision to join or not, or just keep following without joining if they want to. We have no secrets and no hidden agendas.

LOL! James, you crack me up! Obviously you have a right to your opinion. Who helped you, at your request, and gave you advice about getting your group started? I guess that’s why it’s a “superior” group. 😉
But, just curious, in what way is your group “superior” to Born to Be Barefoot? https://www.facebook.com/groups/borntobebarefoot/

James, “more friendly” is obviously a subjective judgment on your part. And of course you would say that since it’s your group and you want to promote it. Yes, your group is friendly (though not “more friendly” IMO). The only problem I see with your group is a very confusing system of posting rules which are either not enforced at all, or at best inconsistently and unfairly enforced by embarrassing certain members by publicly calling them out in group posts. And when requested clarifications of the rules are posted, they are so vague as to be of pretty much useless practical value as guidelines, especially in regard to picture posting. As you know, as part of your private requests to me for help in setting up your group, I have offered you advice on such matters, which you have ignored. If people like that system, that’s fine, and if you think such a confusing and vague system is “more friendly,” then that’s fine also. It’s your group, and you can run it any way you want. But these are just my observations, based on many years of experience in not only barefooting, but participating in numerous groups and discussion forums over the years. I’ve seen it all, and I know what works effectively and what doesn’t.

James, if you could accept a little bit of practical advice from me, that would be to stop worrying about and being obsessed with the BIL. Just do your own thing and eventually lots of people will see through the agenda of the BIL for what it really is.

Maybe you should even thank Dave for helping to promote your own group (and mine as well) by continuing to bring attention to this site here and these comments by constantly griping about it and linking to it on his personal Facebook page.

Well it’s sad to see all the bickering. At least this article got out there, that’s all that really matters.
And if you guys want to promote your groups, even if it’s bickering. Ok. Because that’s also getting out there. So it’s constructive to the cause.
Wish we could put all our energy together to worry towards one goal though. It’s what is logical.

I agree, Myekah. The point of the article seems to me was to promote going barefoot, particularly in the Encinitas area, NOT to promote one particular group or organization that may have happened to be mentioned in the article. This is a mainstream public newspaper, and this is a public site. Such articles are open to free public comment. So if readers happen to mention other groups or sites that have the same goals – promoting barefoot freedom and rights – someone getting upset over such mentions just seems kind of a childish reaction, IMO.

Not only does the leader of the BIL group push radical right wing political beliefs based mainly on phony fake news conspiracy theories, of late it’s obvious that he also supports white supremacist hate groups, based on postings on his personal facebook page, including trying to find reasons to excuse the terror attack and murder by vehicle in Charlotteville, VA recently.

I’m sure there are some good and well meaning people in the BIL, but unfortunately as long as that person is in charge of it, that organization is severely tainted. If the public gets the idea that BIL represents all barefooters, that has a very negative impact on our cause.

James Shaw, there is no way you would be allowed to come back in. You came off as obsessed, almost Psycotic. A lot of members complained about your contact with them.
And you contacted me and said this is your life and the only thing you live for and you need back in and begged through daily messages and I tried to explain how you could get back in but then you contacted more members anyway begging them to tell us to let you in and spurred more complaints .

And Ben I don’t know who you are, but I have never seen anything related to White Supremacists on Daves page. Yes he does post anti government stuff but that’s it.
And in actuality, it doesn’t matter what is on someone personal page. We have people in the group of all beliefs, cultures, races, genders and political beliefs and they do not bring them into the group. There is nothing ever posted in there about anything but the actual subject, unlike what you are doing here.

Like I said, can we all work together for one cause and stop jabbing at each other.
If you want to go out there and do something, do it towards this movement. Fighting and arguing gets us nowhere.
We had to take you out of the group. I’m sor

“…because Bare Feet Are Legal is the best barefoot group on Facebook.”
Sorry, I beg to differ.
Born to Be Barefoot https://www.facebook.com/groups/borntobebarefoot/ is the best barefoot group on Facebook. We are truly about barefooting, not feet, as your group seems to be with constant pictures of just dirty feet sticking up in the air doing nothing.